TAMPA — As Mike Williams fielded questions after a mandatory minicamp practice Wednesday, a Bucs teammate walked by and shouted one request.
"Pay the man," he said.
In fact, it appears that Williams is closer to getting paid.
Negotiations between the Bucs and Williams, which accelerated after free agency and the NFL draft, may produce an agreement within weeks if not days.
"All I can say about that is that it's very close," Williams said Wednesday.
Williams, selected in the fourth round in 2010, has averaged 64 catches in his first three seasons and had a career-best 996 yards and nine touchdowns in 2012. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2013 season.
GM Mark Dominik would like to get a deal completed before training camp.